Bellamy insists Wales belong in Nations League A ahead of Norway clash
Wales will meet Norway in Cardiff on Thursday still searching for their first points in the top division of the Nations League, but Craig Bellamy has insisted that League A is where his side have earned the right to compete.
Why League A remains central to Wales’ progress
Bellamy’s team were promoted from League B in his first campaign as manager after taking charge in July 2024. Their return to the highest Nations League tier has begun with two defeats, a 1-0 loss in Portugal followed by a 2-0 reverse in Denmark, yet the Wales manager sees the calibre of opposition as an essential part of the squad’s development.
| Category | Figure |
|---|---|
| Wales’ League A points this campaign | 0 |
| Portugal v Wales | 1-0 |
| Denmark v Wales | 2-0 |
| Wales’ previous League A matches without a win | 8 |
| Bellamy’s opening unbeaten run as Wales manager | 9 matches |
Wales have not won across eight League A fixtures when the results from 2022 are included, but Bellamy has rejected the idea that difficult scorelines should alter the team’s ambition. He described Norway as another test defined by high intensity, elite players and pace, adding that every group in the division presents that standard.
The manager believes Wales should embrace that challenge after earning promotion. Wales entered the League A draw in pot four, but Bellamy’s view is that the squad should take the opportunity rather than regard it as a burden.
Norway arrive with momentum and major attacking quality
Norway come to Cardiff after a 2-1 defeat to Portugal, having opened their campaign with a 3-2 win over Denmark. Stale Solbakken’s side feature Erling Haaland in attack and Martin Odegaard as a creative focal point.
Bellamy has highlighted Norway’s longer-term growth, pointing to their World Cup quarter-final appearance and the presence of two Norwegian clubs in the Champions League. He believes sustained investment in football and domestic infrastructure has helped establish the country as a rising force, with the potential to remain one for years.
The Norway fixture begins a Cardiff double-header for Wales, with Denmark also due to return for the reverse meeting. Those matches will offer Bellamy’s side a chance to turn encouraging periods against strong opponents into a tangible impact on the group.
A higher benchmark for Bellamy’s Wales
Bellamy’s early nine-game unbeaten sequence brought stability after his appointment, although the standard of the opposition during that spell has been questioned. North Macedonia, ranked 65th in the world, are the highest-ranked side Wales have beaten during his tenure.
Matches against Norway and Denmark now present a sharper measure of Wales’ standing. The immediate task is to end the wait for a League A result while continuing to show that promotion from League B was the start of a wider progression rather than the limit of the team’s ambition.
